Know your acronyms!

Next time you tell someone, “I’m a VCP and VMUG member who runs a next-generation COS and uses NPIV to offer a virtual HBA,” it better not be B.S.

Acronym overload is an unfortunate part of life in IT, especially in virtualization. But that doesn’t mean you can toss them around willy-nilly without knowing what they mean.

I came across a great reminder of this lesson this morning on FMyLife.com, the website where people share the unfortunate — and often hilarious — events that happen in their life. (The “F” stands for exactly what you think it does.) “MrZhang” from Australia wrote:

Today, I had an interview with IBM. For a week I did extensive research and preparation for the interview. At first the interview was going really well. I was hitting all the marks. Then just as a final casual question she asked with a smile “What does IBM stand for?”. I didn’t know. FML

Of course, not knowing an acronym’s meaning won’t typically cost you a job at one of the biggest companies in the world. But it can embarass you in front of your bosses and colleagues … and maybe even your BFF.